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Books and Authors Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Books and Authors
Charles Stanley's Handbook for Christian Living: Biblical Answers to Life's Tough Questions
Published in Hardcover by Thomas Nelson (2001-01-16)
Author: Charles F. Stanley
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Pastor Charles Stanley's Christian Living
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-25
I have attended a few of Charles Stanley's program tapings in Atlanta, GA at the First Baptist Church of Atlanta. I have also enjoyed his programs on television as well as reading some of his books. If you are wanting a reading that will put things into plain english then this book is for you. Charles Stanley is an ordained Baptist Pastor yet he does not really preach to you. To me he is more of a teacher and put things into day to day english that even I can understand. He doesn't do the fire and brimstone preaching - He talks to you whether on tv or books as if he is talking in plain english just to you. He explains in details things you might not understand or just reiterates things you already know. So if you are ready to sit down and meditate on God's word then this is for you.

Excellent bedtime spiritual snacks!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-03
I only use "snack" to describe the chapters in this book because the subjects are offered in manageable amounts of nourishing, informative, fulfilling and soul satisfying nourishment. I read a subject or two each night as I lay in bed before I go to sleep. Very satisfying to my mind, body and soul!

Excellent Reference Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-20
If you have a question about anything Biblical or your personal life, this book is for you. In a concise, understandable writing, Dr. Stanley spells it out clearly. Add this book to your library.

Dr.Stanley has hit a homerun!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-30
This is a great book. This book will deepen your walk with Christ. It is easy to understand. Perfect for the new Christian or the seasond Believer. You will see Dr.Stanley walks with Christ, and his desire is for you to have a deeper walk as well!

Excellent God Inspired Text, to help build up Christians in a trying time
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-09
I first want to say that I have read many Christian books and study the Bible frequently, and I am an ordained Baptist Deacon. This book has been so helpful to me when I have been feeling down or confused about the simplest topics. I recently had lots of doubts and fears over a new job that I had taken, which was causing me so much stress that I felt, I could barely deal with it. The stress was so great that it was interfering with my work, my time spent with family and with my time spent with God. When I read the section on stress it was like a battery recharge, it helped me to put my work stress in perspective and literally made me feel better immediately. Nothing here is new material for me, but it is presented in such a way that it will open your eyes and lift your spirits.

We are all growing everyday and it is our choice how we grow depending on what we feed our minds.

This book is a must have for every Christian family, and I highly recommend it.

Books and Authors
Cheating at Canasta: Stories
Published in Hardcover by Viking Adult (2007-10-18)
Author: William Trevor
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Hidden cards of melancholic entanglement....
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-20


The powerful melancholic narrative in Trevor's 'CHEATING AT CANASTA is often unsettling and complex, but at the same time evocative and finely crafted.

These stories stay in your mind, the harshness of their conclusions, the solidity of them, strongly molded and resonating with fierce elegiac gravity.

Trevor is an eloquent storyteller and shines a probing light on elusive human intricacies and entangled relationships with a true master's touch!


Cheating at Canasta: Trevor wins again.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-12
I am enthusiastic about reading William Trevor. Like Chekhov, he has mastered the art of the short story. The twelve well-crafted stories of his latest collection, Cheating at Canasta: Stories, are filled with revelations about what it means to be human. Trevor is a literary genius, and with Cheating at Canasta, he wins again.

In the poignant title story, following his wife's death, while dining alone at their favorite Venice restaurant, a recent widower (Mallory) learns a lesson about marriage as a couple quarrels at a nearby table. In "The Dressmaker's Child," the life of an auto mechanic (Cahal) is changed forever when a child runs at his car with a stone on a dark rural road. In "Men of Ireland" an aging priest (Father Meade) is blackmailed by a fallen altar boy (Donal Prunty), now 52-year-old tramp. In "Bravado," 80-year-old Trevor brings fresh insights into contemporary life. These stories are nothing short of profound.

G. Merritt

A master of the short story . . . once again
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-30
I was convinced long ago that William Trevor is a master of the short story. I so enjoy luxuriating in his collections that I now intentionally pass by the occasional story in "The New Yorker" in favor of the delayed but ever-so-greater gratification of an entire volume of stories every three or four years. The latest collection of a dozen Trevor short stories is CHEATING AT CANASTA. After reading the first three stories, I feared that perhaps Trevor was slipping a tad. While quite accomplished technically, they did not touch my inner being. But the remaining stories put any such fears to rest. Once again, Trevor proves himself a master of the short story in English.

And once again, I marvel over how Trevor seems to be able to write about anything, about anyone -- to weave a story out of the unlikeliest stray rags and scraps of yarn. Here, many of the characters are from the working class or lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder. Those who are not nonetheless are not among society's glamorous or smug. None of Trevor's characters (here or as far as I remember from his other works) would ever have expected their lives, public or private, to be worthy of the attention of a great writer or legions of sensitive readers. They are common, yet in Trevor's renderings they become uncommon.

A theme shared by all these stories is deception, even between two seemingly very close people. Yet the tone rarely is one of anger. Instead, it is one of gentle ruefulness, tinged with melancholy, at times approaching a world-weariness. The narrative is sparse, almost minimalistic. Yet Trevor's voice is so assured, so authoritative, but without ever being overbearing.

In truth, I can't imagine anyone who appreciates literate short stories not relishing the stories of William Trevor, including CHEATING AT CANASTA.

No Prozac in the water system here ....
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-31
Life as it was lived before the ubiquitous use of anti-depressants. No Prozac in the water system here. Read and be enveloped by the emotion, the heart-wrenching reality of life in the raw. You can feel the sorrow, the embrace of an ineluctable reality, the inescapable path of Destiny. Feel the bleak damp in your bones, the drizzle on your skin. Smell the peat. These stories will linger with you for a long time. Another masterpiece by Ireland's favorite son.

There is no Greater Writer Today
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-23
The last story in this wonderful collection has a French title, "Folie à Deux," but it is about an Irishman who happens to spend a few days in Paris in pursuit of his hobby, philately, stamp collection. The philatelist is also a bit of a philanderer, but that is no more than part of the backdrop. Our hero has a modest meal in a bistro, and perhaps more than a modest amount of alcohol. More backdrop. And then it happens. His childhood reappears. I would not dream of giving away just how this occurs, but I can say that the hour or so that I spent reading this marvelous story cast a spell over my day.

And so it is with the rest of this new collection. Readers of the "New Yorker" will no doubt rediscover old friends among the other stories, but this will hardly diminish the intense enjoyment of rereading.

This volume confirms it once again: there is no greater writer in our day than William Trevor.

Books and Authors
Come Together, Fall Apart
Published in Hardcover by Riverhead Hardcover (2006-04-06)
Author: Cristina Henriquez
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Warmed my heart.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-07
This book was not only one I could not put down, it warmed my heart with its tales of life and love (between family, friends, lovers) and its naturally intertwined references to Panamanian culture. Henriquez describes the details of her characters' lives in such a way that anyone will be able to relate.. and, as an added bonus, if you have a personal relationship with Panama, it will touch your heart with references of the familiar.

Great Book!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-05
This book is amazing. I loved reading it. The short stories were so wonderful. I read it in 3 days.

A fully-matured and well-honed artistic vision of the human condition
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-06
Cristina Henríquez's moving debut collection centers on contemporary Panama where Noriega's shadow offers a disconcerting backdrop as ordinary people struggle for love and meaning. With eight short stories and a novella, Henríquez demonstrates that such struggle doesn't always translate to defeat though sometimes it comes perilously close. In "Beautiful," one of the more disquieting and powerful pieces in this collection, the young protagonist begins her story mid-sentence: "And then that summer when the heart felt like wading through molasses and the streets hummed in a desperate sadness all day and all night, God came down from heaven and paid a visit to our family in two ways: My father returned home and my uncle got rich." A divine visit, however, does not guarantee happiness: the prodigal father eventually preys on his daughter. But ultimately, she imposes her own kind of justice on the abuser. "Chasing Birds" brings us tourists (a married couple) struggling with their relationship as they visit Panama. The husband is more interested in bird watching than romancing his disaffected wife. The result is not surprising but nonetheless heartbreaking on many levels. The title novella weaves together two strands of narrative: the U.S. invasion of Panama and a young boy's unrequited love for a girl who is more interested in his best friend. Henríquez's storytelling is at its most potent in this longer story where she seamlessly blends the political with the personal. Taken together, these stories from the young Henríquez demonstrate a fully-matured and well-honed artistic vision of the human condition. [This review first appeared in the MultiCultural Review.]

Extraordinary
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-16
I'm a recreational reader who's always looking for an interesting book to read & I read about this novel in a newpaper review. It is comprised of short stores and they are extraordinary - so thought provoking. so incredibly well written. Kudos to this talented young author.

One of my favorites this year
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-22
This book was absolutely wonderful. Through her understated prose and organic characters, Henriquez creates an incredibly poignant picture of Panama, in both its beauty and its turmoil. She is at her absolute best in the stories "Ashes" and "Mercury," but each piece is spellbinding.

I appreciated that the Panamanian setting is not overwrought, so that the reader isn't really presented a collection of stories about Panama. Henriquez writes about relationships. Her description of Panama is nevertheless clear and gripping, and makes for a truly enjoyable book.

Books and Authors
The Dreamer
Published in Paperback by Authors & Artists Publishers of New York (2002-01-07)
Author: Matthew G. McMillan
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What an adventurous dream!! Good story!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-13
I've always been fascinated by dreams we have and what they mean. Many of my writing ideas come from the different strange dreams that I have while sleeping. You can imagine my eagerness to read this book.

In "The Dreamer," Molly Parker has lost her father in a car accident exactly a year ago. In her dreams she is visited by a strange little girl who offers her help bringing her father back. Molly is introduced to Father Time, with whom she makes a bargain. If she finds and delivers a new crystal ball to Mother Time, she can have her father back. Molly begins an adventurous quest full of obstacles in search of Mother Time, along with her new and loyal friends.

I enjoyed this story very much. It's an easy read (as it is intended for all ages), and easy to follow.

My favorite of all, I have to say is Father Time, Mother Earth, Death, Chaos--all personified! There were many interesting fantasy characters. I loved the winged horses. I was particularly intrigued by Medusa who also makes an appearance in this story. I've always been fascinated by Medusa and her hair full of snakes (I'm terrified of snakes).

Overall, great story!

Great fantasy novel!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-29
World building is one of the most significant aspects of any fantasy novel. For many people, including myself, that is the exact reason they read fantasy novels. Truly, if an author creates a unique world that gives life to the story and makes the reading experience memorable, he has written a first-rate fantasy novel. Matthew G. McMillan has done exactly that.

In his first novel, The Dreamer, McMillan has given us a splendid setting called The Realms of Timeless Wisdom. It is a place separate from our Earth, yet connected enough that with some help we, too, can go there-in our dreams. It is there that we go when we sleep or die. And, maybe more importantly, it is in this Realm that all the creatures of legend exist: dragons, flying horses, and giants to name a few. To make it a little more intriguing, McMillan hints at the possibility of other Realms, too. As one of the characters states, there are many Realms and Worlds.

Enter Molly Parker. She is a young girl from Littletown (on the planet Earth) whose father passed away in a car accident exactly one year before the book begins. Struggling with her loss, Molly has only one wish: that her father was still alive. Molly is then given a chance to see this wish come to fruition by Father Time, himself, provided she succeeds in the mission he has entrusted her to complete. It is this mission that remains central to the novel and sends the heroine off to battle evil in The Realms of Timeless Wisdom.
Though there are many facets of this book that I love, there are two that really stand out for me. One is that the book has some thought-provoking qualities. As a teacher I constantly find that I slip into Teacher Mode while reading and I ask myself, "How could I use this in the classroom?" Though many fantasy novels lack this type of educational quality, I could certainly see The Dreamer being used as a springboard for many discussions. Topics such as time and its uses, the possibility of life on other worlds, and what it's like to lose someone you love are a few that could be brought up while reading this book.

It is the topic of loss that truly puts The Dreamer into a unique group. In a day when most books seem to get their characters and families from shows like The Simpsons (where everything is sarcastic and dysfunctional), McMillan paints an opposite picture. The love between Molly and her mother Klara is tenderly portrayed and nurtured throughout the novel. We get to experience their pain over the loss of Mr. Parker, which in turn gives us a window to see that this was once (and in many ways still is) a very loving family. That, in today's market, is truly rare.

With all this in mind, I heartily recommend The Dreamer to all readers, both young and old. Matthew G. McMillan has written a wonder of a first novel. McMillan's novel has enough strange events in it to make Rod Serling scratch his head and enough fantasy to make Tolkien smile. Yet, like many of the classic young adult books, The Dreamer leaves one with the idea that hope is real, and life can (and will) get better even when it's rough. It's a great read and the thing that makes it even better is knowing that there will be more books to come!

Thomas Bolme, Jr.
an independent professional book reviewer

In the beginning...
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-08-19
Matthew G. McMillan has written a superb fantasy story that asks you to suspend your disbelief in the impossible and allow the infinite range of possibilities to sweep you away in a tale of excitement, love, courage, and redemption. I cannot wait for the second and third books to arrive!!

"The Ghosts of Littletown": The Dreamer Book 1
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2002-04-28
With a writing style that I can only compare to the great Lloyd Alexander (Of "The Prydain Chronicles" fame: ... Matthew G. McMillan takes us into a world where fantasy is real and our heroine has only her wits and her friends to survive. I truly enjoyed this book, and can't wait for the next installment. I guarantee that my daughter will enjoy it as much as I did.

A great book for all ages
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-03-22
This is one of the best books I have read in a while,
I def. reccomend this book to anyone who likes fantasy. This book is good for all ages. I can't wait till the other 2 books come out.

Books and Authors
Drive Like Hell: A Novel
Published in Paperback by Scribner (2007-08-21)
Author: Dallas Hudgens
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what a book!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-03
From beggining to end this book couldn't have been much more interesting, unless I was riding along too!!! Marvelously written, 100% entertainment from cover to cover. Ir would make for an excellent screenplay, even though you couldn't make it better than this book.
It is supposedly fiction, but you wouldn't really know from his descriptions.

A great read
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-12-19
This book grabs you and sucks you in from the first page. By page 10, I couldn't put it down. Well written and entertaining, uniquely insightful about growing up male and Southern. I'd recommend this for anyone - my girlfriends loved it, my brother tried to steal it from me.

This book is unputdownable!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-05-27
I never dreamed that I would grow to care for the redneck crew that inhabit the pages of Drive Like Hell. What captured me was Dallas Hudgens' ability to take me inside the heart and mind of an adolescent boy and to show me the humor and sensitivity that reside there. What had me rereading many of the pages was the sheer beauty of the author's words. He describes scenes with such richness and precision that he has you breathing the same air as the characters in his novel. And, as with all great reads, he has you lusting for a sequel!

Brings back memories
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-01
All of the music references made this book so enjoyable. I picked up my son's copy, and I'm not sure which one of us liked it more. Anyone who's ever been a teenager living in the South (or anywhere for that matter) will identify with Luke Fulmer. Drive Like Hell is funny, suspenseful, and moving, and I can tell that Hudgens is one heck of a Southerner. He's the real thing--and he even manages to work Jack Nicklaus into the story.

The transformation into adulthood
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-16
Hudgens has spun a compelling tale about Luke, a 16-year-old Southern boy in the late 1970's who is about to have a series of life-shaping experiences. The reader gets to see Luke deal with scrapes with the law, his first girlfriend, his first experiences driving cars legally (and illegally), the minor and major-league drug deals, and coming to terms with his alcoholic mother and absent father. All of this is told with true Southern charm and a fantastic cast of characters--a likeable but gruff sheriff out for political gain, a zany foreign chef who made salad dressing with Paul Newman, a breezy petty thief who happens to be a charming girl, AA teetotalers, and my favorite off all, an unbalanced former professional football player who lives in the moment and has tons of cash to thrown at his mistakes.

I'm not a Southerner, but I was charmed by these just-to-the-side-of-the-law rednecks and car lovers. Let's hope Hudgens treats us to a second story about Luke's career as a bail bondsman.

Books and Authors
The Enlightened Heart
Published in Paperback by Harper Perennial (1993-09-29)
Author: Stephen Mitchell
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Excellent Collection
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-27
This is a compact anthology, but a wonderful collection that includes Li Po, Wu-Men, Rumi, Kabir, Mirabai, Rilke... One of my personal favorites

stephen mitchell does it again
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-10
mitchell puts together an amazing compilation of sacred poetry in this book. i highly recommend reading the enlightened mind if you like this.

This book has enriched my life.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-05
I also received this book many years ago from a friend and have given it to others as a gift many times. It is an exceptional collection. The sacred poems and excerpts come from all over the world and have given me new perspective and joy at many different ages and stages of life. God bless you Stephen Mitchell, for making these treasures known to us.

Beautiful poetry
Helpful Votes: 17 out of 17 total.
Review Date: 2001-10-03
I bought this book after reading about it in my yoga magazine thinking I could really use a good book of poems to ponder and this book is terrific. The poems really will quiet your mind. I love that such a wide array of authors are represented - from Rumi to Dogen to Emily Dickenson to Walt Whitman. A great collection. Glad I bought it.

A perennial favorite
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-08-19
The title itself speaks for this tender and uplifting collection of "spiritual" poetry. Mitchell's translation of some of the psalms have a particular clarity for me, and the eclectic mixture of ancient and modern, long and short poems are meditation material that renews me. This is a gift to share with seekers and finders.

Books and Authors
An Exhilaration of Wings: The Literature of Bird Watching
Published in Paperback by Penguin (Non-Classics) (2001-05-01)
Author: Various
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A "must read" for birdwatchers, fanciers, and ecologists.
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2000-02-03
This survey of the literature surrounding birdwatching gathers together some of the most intriguing writings under one cover, exploring the literary side of the observations of Muir, Audubon, and others. These take the form of paragraphs of information which explore sightings and bird ecology.

Literary and inspirational
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 1999-11-04
At last we see the aesthetic side of birdwatching presented with a sensitivity so often lacking in nature writing. Whereas many birding volumes revert to more and more pedantic description, this is a work which, as its title suggests, invites us to experience a little of the ecstacy of flight itself. We study birds because we are inspired by them, but too many birding books concentrate on the study and not the inspiration. In this work the writings of a wide variety of knowledgeable writers--both well-known and obscure--present in often touching prose their first-hand observations of and experiences with a passtime they love. The careful organization makes this a useful reference work, akin to Bartlett's, for those in search of just the right inspirational quote. These are transcendent moments which otherwise might be lost in mouldering libraries, and I have been personally touched by many of the seemingly inconsequential but thoroughly delightful scenes recorded here. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to lift themselves or their friends above what can often be the drudgery of daily life, who would like to remember that birds fly, they are beautiful, and there is something magnificent in that.

Romantic?
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 1999-12-23
The "romantic" birder will enjoy the many written excerpts that Hill includes in her book. The "analytical" birder may prefer something more prosaic. Not sure if you are a romantic birder or an analytical birder?...Read ths book and find out.

Awesome
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 1999-11-06
This book is awesome. I read it while jammin' on the crete at the Ithaca board park. Love it man. No school, birds rule!

The Heart and Soul of Bird Watching
Helpful Votes: 9 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2000-01-20
This book offers a wonderful look at the historical roots of bird watching. How refreshing to read truly emotional responses to the experience of learning about birds through observation. The wonderful blend of writings underscores the universality and agelessness of the sport.

This book is perfect for short reads -- great to pick up for a moment, either to refresh oneself or to share with a friend. It is a perfect gift for any bird lover -- I have purchased 6 copies to date!

Books and Authors
Feathers from My Nest: A Mother's Reflections
Published in Hardcover by Broadman & Holman Publishers (2001-04)
Author: Beth Moore
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Share this book with all the precious women in your life!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-21
I LOVE this book! I encourage you to pass this along to mothers, daughters, sisters, friends...everyone will love it and be enriched greatly just by reading this sweet, funny, thought-provoking book by the incomparable Beth Moore!

Great for parents of little ones OR empty nesters
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-17
I'm a parent of 2 little ones, and I've been reading one of her essays each morning. They're sweet and real and funny (just like Beth Moore always is) - and they're a real encouragement to me to see the long view of godly parenting, rather than getting stuck in the preschool weeds. I also gave it as a gift to my mother-in-law whose chicks are long gone from the nest, and she loved it too.

Enjoyable read
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-12
Very touching...touches all emotions. I bought three more to share with other family/friends who are mothers. Great choice as a gift for moms whose children are leaving for college.

Refreshing and warm feeling
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2003-03-10
This wonderful little book about Beth and her husband going thru empty-nest made me feel a wide range of emotions. She is a brilliant writer and always amazes me how she can be a faithfull follower of Jesus but still have so much FUN!! What a refreshing christian woman..Buy the book.. you won't be disapointed.. Beth allows you a 'peek' into her private life. If you have taken a bible study that she wrote you will get snapshots of her life.. this book fills in the holes a bit..Great reading!

Perfect for any woman!
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2003-03-18
I read Beth Moore's book after experiencing two miscarriages and trying to get pregnant for the third time. Her Godly approach to motherhood made me realize that God gives us children as gifts and blessings - regardless if it is for a few months in utero or for decades on earth! She gives a personalized insight on how to try to raise children to love Christ - in a world that often makes that difficult! I would highly recommend this book to any woman - moms, daughters, moms-to-be, or as I was when I read it, a mom wanna-be!

Books and Authors
Finding Stefanie (Noble Legacy Series #3)
Published in Paperback by Tyndale House Publishers (2008-06-04)
Author: Susan May Warren
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Average review score:

One of My Favorite Series
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-18
Every book in this series is fantastic. Susan May Warren knows how to write wonderful characters full of depth and flaws. I'm always sad to finish one of her books because I don't want to leave these realistic characters, riveting stories, and inspiring settings. These are the stories that come back like old friends and make you wonder how Nick, Rafe and Stephanie are doing in their lives, and wishing for another book to take a peek into where they might be now if they were real people.

Great characterization
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-15
I enjoy Susan's writing a lot. In fact, her earlier novel "Happily Ever After" remains one of my all-time favorite reads. And I loved "Reclaiming Nick" and "Taming Rafe," so I looked forward to this third book's release in the Noble Legacy collection. And I wasn't disappointed.

First off, Susan has an amazing handle on characterization. So right from the start you know her characters are going to seem real.

Specifically, I loved her secondary romance thread in Finding Stefanie. She let us watch 18-year-old Gideon's tender-hearted interactions with Libby, a 19-year-old character. Susan has a deep understanding of the human heart and our motivations (good or bad). She always believably pens her wide spectrum of characters.

Her primary romance was delicious, too. Love those Beta heroes (mostly because it's not the norm).

I appreciate Susan's heart to see people find God's love for them. She skillfully weaves messages of hope and redemption into her stories. I also appreciate her servant's heart toward other writers. She's an encourager and teacher, a mentor and friend to many in the Christian writing community.

Looking forward to her next series.

A fulfilling conclusion to the series
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-14
Reviewed by Tracy Kokemuller for Reader Views (8/08)

Susan May Warren has another hit novel on her hands with "Finding Stefanie," the third installment in the Noble family saga. It is the tale of Stefanie Noble, twin of superstar bull-riding champion, Rafe Noble and younger sister of Silver Buckle co-owner, Nick Noble. Living in her brothers' shadows never used to bother Stefanie, but lately she's unsure of where she belongs. Enter Lincoln Cash, movie star, and Stefanie's new neighbor. Will these two develop a relationship out of the crushes they have on each other? Or will they clash over Hollywood coming to Montana?

Unlike Warren's two previous novels, "Finding Stefanie" concentrates on Stefanie's journey to come into her own. Women will find themselves relating to her as she struggles to find out God's purpose in her life. The minor characters are also celebrated by Susan's writing. The themes explored are disability, second chances, truth and romance. These are just some of the themes that book clubs can explore in their discussions. My favorite part was the suspense that builds up until I found myself second guessing the answer, only to find out I was wrong. The relationship of Lincoln and Stefanie was the heart of this novel and their romance doesn't disappoint the fans of this series. One of my favorite lines from the book is from Lincoln. "He came to Montana thinking his life was imploding. He never dreamed it would get so big."

Even if you haven't read the other two books in the series, "Finding Stefanie" stands on its own. You should go back and read the other two books in the series, "Reclaiming Nick" and "Taming Rafe," about Stefanie's brothers. "Finding Stefanie" by Susan May Warren is a fulfilling conclusion to the Noble family and I was sad to see these characters go.

I loved FINDING STEPHANIE..
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-12
I loved the whole Noble series but I have to say this was my favorite. Lots of other great reviews have been written but I just want to add that the story was GREAT! There were several story lines going on but Susan handles them with great skill. Never once did I feel lost. I hated to see the series come to a close, but I always look forward to her next work of "art"!

Great job Susan.

First Impressions and Second Chances
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-14
I think that Stefanie's book was my favorite out of the whole series. I'm not sure if it's because she was the only girl and I felt that I could relate to her the most. She is very strong willed and is completely capable of taking care of herself. I think she's actually the most "noble" of all the Noble siblings. There's nothing in her past for her to be ashamed of. I liked Gideon's story as well involving his relationship with Libby. I didn't like her dad too well because for a pastor he was rather quick to judge. You'd think he'd be willing to look for the good in someone first before trying to kick them out of town. I felt in the beginning that Gideon was being too proud by refusing help but in the end he gave in because of his sisters.The mystery was very well played throughout the book. I missed the small clues about who it was so I was surprised at the end to see who the perpetrator had been. I liked Lincoln as well. He was a multi-dimensional character with a lot of secrets that he had been hiding for years. He and Stefanie had good chemistry throughout the whole book. The only thing that is still baffling me is to why Stefanie and Rafe never acknowledge Cole as their brother even though from the first book we find out that he actually is. My only guess is that they still have not found this out.Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While I am sad to see the series end, I felt like this book tied up many loose ends and had a satisfying ending. I shall miss the adventures of the Noble kids and the life of ranching.

Books and Authors
The Fire of His Holiness: Prepare Yourself to Enter God's Presence
Published in Paperback by Renew (1999-09)
Author: Sergio Scataglini
List price: $13.99
New price: $5.47
Used price: $1.93

Average review score:

Fervent Call for Action
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-25
At the heart of this book is a call to live a pure life before God. The author addresses the subject with a spirit of conviction, not condemnation. He emphasizes the need for God to do the work in a person. He contrasts that with self-effort which could result in pride.

Using the Canaanite woman from Matthew 15, a Gentile seeking a miracle from Jesus who had her faith tested, he says three elements are needed to receive from God in such a time of testing: faith, perseverance and humilty. He points out that although the woman seemed to initially be turned away she did not become offended and leave. She maintained a proper attitude, humbled herself and continued to ask.

Scataglini defines "religiosity" as an unclean spirit that "binds people with empty routines" (p. 173). He describes how God used him in a situation to break that spirit.

The need for persistence is illustrated in the beginning of the book as well when he describes opposition to acquiring facilities for a revival in Argentina. "We have to keep insisting; they said no, but the Lord said 'yes'" (p. 45).

He emphasizes that it is by seeking God that the pure mind is obtained and maintained as one spends time in God's presence. Diligent prayer gets results.

Convicting
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-23
If this book does not change your walk with God and look at SIN and how God sees it, then I am not sure what else will. God does require COMPLETE holiness...Unfortunately, the Church has taught that Grace is enough to cover our continual, non-repentant sin. Huh??? No wonder Christianity is confusing and not fulfilling to so many. The life that God intended for each of us and the lives we actually LIVE are completely opposed to eachother. This will convict and change you...Thank you Sergio!

Every Christian should read this book!
Helpful Votes: 13 out of 13 total.
Review Date: 2002-11-05
If you are hungry for a deeper walk with God you MUST read this book. The author describes in the first chapter a manifestation of the Holy Spirit that changed his life. He proceeds to exhort the reader to pursue this "FIRE" in their own lives and gives a wealth of material to help you get there.

The key is that we serve a holy God that requires for us to also be holy, but holiness is not a code of rules. Rather it's a pursuit of being like Him and with Him. As we dwell in His holy presence, we are made in His image.

Holiness is a process that takes work, time, and discipline. If holiness is your desire this book can help you achieve it.

What a blessing!
Helpful Votes: 13 out of 13 total.
Review Date: 2001-09-20
This is BY FAR, one of the best messages given to the body of Christ!
A must for anyone who is tired of of the rollercoaster ride of chrisitanity --temptation..defeat..temptation...defeat
The Lord has given this wonderful servant the revelation to go from temptation to VICTORY....temptation to VICTORY!!
Sergio is a man of true brokenness and pure humility.
Out of his belly flows rivers and rivers!!!
this is not just a book
Trust me, i read A LOT of books!!!!
This is truly lifechanging

Words with POWER and GRACE!
He said He was coming back for a church "without spot or blemish."
Most christians don't belive that could happen.
God gave me the vision ....
And this is the core of the answer!
Prepare to have your eyes unveiled and your lives radically changed!

This is a must for those seeking holiness !
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-05-15
For those seeking the face of God this book will change your life. The fire is a cleansing like no other. Sergio will lead you into the presence of God and if you will die to yourself God will completely transform your life. My life has been forever changed, it is now totally 100% in the hands of God ! May your experience with the Father be as awesome or even stronger than mine. Remember, it's His Holiness we seek. Praise Jesus Christ of Nazareth!


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